Signal device for road-vehicles.



HWILKE.

SIGNAL DEVICE FOR ROAD VEHICLES.

` APPLICATION FILED DEC.2I. I9I5. 51mm@ Patented Nov. 2'?, ISI?,

Hmwy We' Mm.,

lil

"Willi SGNAL DEVICE @lt ZFQLDYEHLLES.

tpeeication of Letters Patent.

lPa-ten'ted Nov.

application. iled December ahime'. Serial No. l,

Toall whom may concern:

Be it known that l, HARRY WELKE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Denver, in the county of lenver and State of Colorado, have invented certain 'new and useful improvements in Signed- Devices for Road-Vehicles, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to signaling devices, and it is the object thereof to provide simple and convenient means by which the driver of a vehicle may indicate to others, Whether behind or ahead of his vehi i hi intention to turn to one side or the other. ely invention is particularly intended for convenient attachment motor-vehicles, for use in cities and wher.e er road traiiic is in any Way congested. .inor objects of my invention relate to the specific structural ieatures thereof, and will be more fully set iforth hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure l is a rear view of a device embodying my invention, as' vapplied on an ordinary type of Windshield on a motor-vehicle, Fig. 2 is a detail showing a part of the device in longitudinal vertical section, Fig. 3 is a de ameter.

tail horizontal section through the central part of the casingtnbe, Fig. l is a transverse i section on the plane of the line wof Fig.

3, Fig. 5 is a partial plan view showing in detail the attaching device for the casingtube, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the casing-tube, showing the attaching device in side elevation.

ln carrying out my invention l provide a tubular casing l formed by a piece of metal pipe or tubing of suitable length and diln one side of the tube there is a longitudinally extending slot which at its center is oset circumferentially of the tube so that When the tube is disposed horizontally there are, in eiiect, two horizontal slot portions Whose adjacent ends are connected by a short vertical slot-portion." The tube may be provided with iaring" monti/1-piecesl 2, if desired, to give the ends thereof a finished appearance. Within the central part of thetube a cylindrical block1 3 is disposed slidably, and into said block is screwed the stern ,Li of a handle 5, said stem extending through the slot in the side of the tube, so that by 'means of the handle the block may be moved longitudinally. To said slidabie block 3 is connected a two part rod or stati which extends longitudine-ily Within the casing and carrifr at each of its ends an expansible signal device, the saine being adapted to project and open from theV end of the tube when the handle is moved toward the respective end from a central position with respect to the longitudinal slot in the casing. Preferably the tivo parts of said rod or staare each made from a single piece ofwire, ci which Athe central portion formed into a loop 6, the portions i' adjoining said loop being twisted together, and other small loops or eyes 8 being iorined at intervals by opening out the convolutions or' the twisted portions, as shown clearly in Fig. Q. Besides the expanded portions forming the eyes S, there is a larger expanded portion 9 of which the size is such that it is normally Wider than the diameter of the tube, and 'which thus frictionally engages' the Walls of the tube when inclosed thereby. At the outer end oit the twisted portions Z each side of Y triangular flag l5 made of fabric or other flexible inaterial.

The inner ends of the two rod or etait parts, each formed as above described, extend into the tubular bore of the centen block 3, being in overlapped relation to each other so that the two end-loops d coincide as shown in Fig. 3, or so that any two of the eyes 8, or one of said eyes 8 and one of the end-loops 6 coincide. The stem Ll, eirtending` through said coincident loops or eyes, connects the two parts oi the stati in adjusted relations to each other and to the center-block When the device is in use the casing is secured in a horizontal position on a suitable portion of the vehicle, as to the lower portion of the-Wind--shieid fil, as shown in Fig. l, so that the handle 5 nia-y be conveniently reached by the driver. The length of the tniimlar is i ends tl'iereot Will extend ont traiisversely of the vehicle,l .far enough for the signal 'flags when projecting' therefrom 'to be dis tinctly seen by the driveroi a v=hicle approaching from behind, as well as by' any person in 'front of the vehicle on vwhich the signal is displayed. As the width oi the various vehicles to which the signal might be applied varies Within certain limits, it

. is preferable in 'practice tomahe' the casingy tube long enough' vehicle'.4 Then,

' mouth-pieces 'and replaced the same is' for use on.. the Widest when applying .the device to a narrower vehicle, the ends ofthe tube may be cut olii' to the 2, ofcourse, being` removed upon the ends of the tube after i. the casingrtube, the effective length ofl the .-inclosediby the tubevvhen the handle 'and or offset part,

' one end,

flag-steif may be adjusted by overlapping jtlie ends of the tWo parts and. connecting them by passing the stem 4 through the eves or -loops thereof', as before mentioned.

rllhe length of the staifis made suchthat both signale'l'ags will be drawn into and theste'm 4 are at the center, of the longitudinal slot in the side of the casincr, Kben the., tube-is' shortened all of length may be made -at the reduction of its the. center of the thus causing longitudinal slot to the center ofthe casing, shouldI such a locationof4 he handle be desired inorder to have ig closer tol and in more convenient reach of the driver. VlVhen all shortening of the tube is done Vat one end, the adjustmentJ in length of the staff vwill also be made entirely by changing one of the staff-parts to the center-block.

For connecting `Wind-shield, as in Fig. 1,1 providea pair of clamping devices, each having 'an annu- "lar body 16 through *.1515 passed, and' a hook-portionV 17 adapted to -vvhich the tube is engage ythe frame of the Wind-shield .as

,shown in Figs.l o

and 6, the clamps being securedjtol the tube and the latterheld firmly againstsaid frame by small setscrevvs' 18.-

From theforegoing the operation of the signals will be apparent. The coils l0 form l springs which enable the divergent arms l1 entire: flag device'is readily contained Within lthe tube,

are drawninto the becoming gathered so that the to closel inwardly as they casing-tube,.the flags 1'5` intofolds at the same time,

and will assume its expanded position instantly upon being pushed out of the end of lthe easing. The expanded stalfportions 9, by frictionall'y engaging thewalls of the tube, tend to position tovvhich it'mav be moved, and to' prevent looseness and rattling of the parts when the vehicle "is in motion. The offset at the center of thelongitudinaly slot serves to mark the central position of the'handle ij,- 4at'` .which the-signal-flags are bot-h -in the .retracted or concealed position.` Saidoifsct bf. the slot also serves to form a stop for the handle when` either of the flags is eviti-l dra-Wn from thev displayed position, pre1 ing -the handle from being moved dirl desired length, the

shortened. After shortening;

be not. coincident With the relation of the casing-tube With, a

. each other.

a "wire 4.having an hold the staff in any.

.far enough i. to cause the other 'nag ,to be displayed; it being obv-illus that in moving the handle from one end-of the slot tothe other it is necessary to'pause momentarily the center vvliile the'stem 4 is'moved ver# .tically through the offset part of the slot.

Now, -having described my invention', ,what l claim and vdesire tosecure by Letters Patent ist i 1;, In a signal device for road vehicles, the

combination. lwith a tubular casingvhaving a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, of a .two-part 1stad4 entending longitudinally Within the,y casing,.'signal members -carried.-

atthe ends 4of'said staff and adapted to be proyected beyond the-ends ofthe casing by movement of the staff longitudinally, and a an overlappedV adjustedrelation, said mem- :ao` member connecting the parts of the stad in ber extending outside the 'casingfthroughthe longitudinal slot therein.-

ln a signal device for road. vehicles,

the combination with a tubular casing, a two-part staff slidable longitudinallyv within the casing, signal members carried'.

at' the ends ofthe stad l,and adapted to .be

projected beyond the ends of the-casing by longitudinal movement of the staff, each, part of the Staff being Wire having the convolut-ion's thereof expanded to form eyes, pass through said eyes of the staff-parts to connectsaid 3. ln a signal device tubular casing, ya `tWo-' consisting of ,Wires having portionstwisted ltogether andhaving parts of the convolutions of thetwisted portions expanded to frictionallyy engage the Walls of the casing, and means connected'vvitli the staff for moving the 'same to display the signal members,

' 'HARRY "NILKE part vsta'if inclosed. -thereby, each part of said staff-comprising eye atv one end, portions .adjoining said eye twisted together, parts expanded from said form additional eyes, Y ends of said twisted portions twisted .portions toA parts at lthe other coiled to. form from the coiled portions,.flag"s in divergent position,

the staff to protectthe arm-poi'- be projected from the ends formed of' a twisted"v i andmeans adapted to i Parts in adjusted-relations' to 95 i for" road vehicles, a i* ict llO

iis 

